IT will be a Mother’s Day with a difference for a West Footscray woman this year when she sets off on a cycling adventure through the Laos countryside.
Janita Suter of charity Save the Children will be one of a team of 12 riders raising money ahead of their trip to build a new village health clinic in the remote north of the country for some of the world’s most vulnerable children.
Ms Suter says it will be her first visit to a country renowned for its natural beauty but poor health outcomes for its youngest people .
“I work for Save the Children and I’m a mother of two children. I hear a lot of startling statistics and one that I heard was that every day in Laos, 36 children under the age of five die due to preventable and treatable illnesses. As a parent I find that appalling and confronting.”
All those taking part in Save the Children’s inaugural Mother’s Day Cycle event will volunteer in the organisation’s Laos health and education programs while learning about Laotian culture.
“It is actually around the part of the country where it [the clinic] is going to be built and we are going to meet a lot of the people whose lives will be improved by this,” Ms Suter said.
“The ride is suitable for anyone whether young or old. We’re being followed by a support bus and the terrain is fairly flat.”
Each of the participants must raise $7000 ahead of the trip, just over half going directly to help build a new $75,000 clinic and train staff, with the remainder to cover travel costs including flights, meals and accommodation.
“Everyone has the power to do something about these things. It’s a way for people to do something life-changing; these types of trips can be such a great experience.”
The 13-day adventure runs from May 12-24, including five days of cycling.
Further details: savethechildren.org.au/laos
